Medicines, their uses and mode of administration : including a complete conspectus of the three British pharmacopoeias, an account of all the new remedies, and an appendix of formulae / by J. Moore Neligan.
- John Neligan
- Date:
- 1849
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Medicines, their uses and mode of administration : including a complete conspectus of the three British pharmacopoeias, an account of all the new remedies, and an appendix of formulae / by J. Moore Neligan. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
139/504
![Adulterations.—Arsenious acid seldom contains any impurity; as sold in the form of powder, it is sometimes adulterated with chalk or sulphate of lime, or it may accidentally contain a little oxide of iron ; any of them may be detected by the application of heat, which sublimes the acid and leaves the impurity. Therapeutical Effects.—Arsenious acid is a powerful caustic, producing death of the part to which it is applied, which subsequently separates by sloughing ; in consequence, however, of the danger which may occur from its absorption, it is but seldom employed in regular practice in the present day. The cases in which it has been found of use are, malignant or cancerous ulcerations especially of the skin of the face, in lupus, in onychia maligna, and in hospital gan- grene. It may be applied in the form of ointment made with axunge or spermaceti, powdered opium being added to allay the pain it causes. Dangerous symptoms are less likely to arise from its absorption, if an ointment containing a tenth or sixth of its weight of the acid be em- ployed, than if a weaker preparation be used.—Arsenical paste, Cazenave. (Arsenic, 2 parts ; sulphate of mercury, 1 part ; animal charcoal, 2 parts ; mix). When required for use, a few drops of water are added to this powder so as to form it into a thin paste, which is spread upon the surface to be acted on, which should never exceed an inch in diameter at each application.—Arsenical caustic powder, P. (Arsenic, 8 parts; dragon's blood, and cinnabar, of each, 15 parts; mix and reduce to a fine powder). This powder is made into a paste with a little saliva or gum-water just before it is applied. (See Tonics). Cupri subacetas, [U. S.] D. iERUGO, L. E.—Subacetate of Cop- per ; Verdigris ; Impure diacetate of Copper. Preparation.—An article of the Materia Medica, obtained by placing plates of copper in contact with the fermenting marc of the grape, or with cloths dipt in vinegar. The Dublin College directs this article to be pre- pared lor medical use, Cupri subacetas prceparatum, by a process similar to that for prepared chalk. Physical Properties.—In coarse masses or in powder, of a beau- tiful bluish-green colour, with a disagreeable acetous odour, and a styptic, metallic taste. Chemical Properties.—It is a mixture of the sesqui- and tribasic acetates of copper, sometimes containing also a proportion of the bibasic acetate. It is permanent in the air ; heated it first loses water, then acetic acid, and the residue contains metallic copper; water resolves it into a soluble acetate, and an insoluble trisacetate. It is dissolved entirely by both sulphuric and muriatic acids. Adulterations.—The slight impurities, metallic copper or earthy matters, present in commercial verdigris are of no importance ; they may be detected by its solubility in sulphuric or muriatic acid. Therapeutical Effects.—As a caustic it is applied to indolent ulcers, to venereal warts, and to fungous growths ; it is also a useful application in ophthalmia tarsi; and in chronic diseases of the scalp, when they are of an indolent and obstinate character. It may be used in powder, or in either of the following forms:—Unguentum cupri subacetalis, [U. S.] D. Unguentum aruginis, E. (Subacetate of cop- per, in fine powder (prepared, D.), §ss. (§i., [U. S.] E.) ; ointment](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21143602_0139.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
